DA Pamela Price won't address recall in announcing charges vs. deputies in Santa Rita Jail death

OAKLAND, Calif. - Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price held a news conference on Thursday, her first public appearance since being recalled last week.

But she refused to discuss her reaction to the recall effort that appears to have passed with approval by more than 60% of voters, or talk about the future of cases her office has filed. 

"Now is not the time nor the place," Price said. 

Instead, Price read aloud the names and the criminal charges she filed this week against seven current deputies, two former deputies, and two medical staff regarding the Nov. 15, 2021 death of Maurice Monk, who had been languishing in his Santa Rita Jail cell for days before anyone noticed he was no longer alive.  

KTVU first reported these charges on Tuesday.

Monk's sister, Elvira Monk, told KTVU that she was told by prosecutors that the arrest warrants are still being served on the deputies and staff and that "things are going good."

Charging documents filed in Alameda County Superior Court show current and former deputies Donall Chauncy Rowe, Thomas Mowrer, Ross Burruel, Robinderpal Singh Hayer, Andre Gaston, Troy Hershel White, Syear Osmani, Mateusz Laszuk and Christopher Haendel as well as Wellpath nurse David Everett Donoho and Alameda County Forensic Behavioral Health Dr. Neal Edwards were all charged with dependent adult abuse and neglect. The maximum penalty is four years in prison.

Mower and White no longer work at the sheriff's office.

Hayer, White and Osmani were also charged with falsifying documents.

All the charges are felonies. 

The seven who still work for the sheriff were put on paid administrative leave. 

An arraignment has been scheduled for Monday morning at the Wiley Manuel courthouse in Oakland. 

In an email to KTVU over the weekend, Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez acknowledged that mistakes were made in Monk's death, but she does not believe criminal charges are warranted. 

Sanchez said she was "deeply disappointed by District Attorney Price’s decision to pursue charges, as I do not believe they are justified. I will continue to support our staff throughout this challenging process."

Wellpath officials chose not to comment. 

Sgt. Shaughn Park, president of the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Alameda County, would not comment about the charges. 

Last fall, KTVU first reported the conditions of Monk's death after obtaining exclusive body camera video inside the jail that shows no one physically checked on the 45-year-old man, who is seen lying half naked on his bunk, for at least three days, possibly four.

And when deputies finally found Monk's body, stacks of uneaten food trays and pills lay scattered about the floor near an oblong puddle of urine by the foot of his bed.

Monk had been there so long that the ink imprint of his jail shirt had stained his chest. Stacks of uneaten food trays and pills lay scattered on the floor.

An internal sheriff's investigation found that some deputies forged the wellness check timelines and failed to identify plenty of signs that Monk had been in medical distress, according to Monk's wrongful death lawsuit. 

Last year, Monk's daughter and son won $7 million – an unprecedented amount from the sheriff's office. 

While this was a significant case for Price – it appears to be the first time in history that so many law enforcement officers were charged at once in Alameda County with an in-custody death – the actual future of the case is uncertain. 

No one knows who will permanently replace Price and if that person will want to continue with the case. 

Steven Clark, a legal expert, said there is an uphill battle ahead to get a conviction. 

"Clearly, this was deplorable conduct by the jail, but the question is, is it the individuals or systemic failure that occurred here?" Clark asked. "And that's the difference between a criminal prosecution and the civil settlement." 

There also remains the question of whether Price's successor will continue the prosecution.

"This is going to be a monumental prosecution," Clarke said. ".And it may be something that Pamela Price's successor decides not to follow through on. 

Price wouldn't speculate. 

She only highlighted what her prosecutors had already done. 

"The Public Accountability Unit did, in fact, file these charges based on a thorough review of the evidence, and the charges are pending," Price said. 

And as for herself, Price reiterated her refusal to lay out her own future. 

"Now is not the time or the place for me to address what the campaign will do," Price said. 

The Alameda County Registrar is expected to release updated vote counts in the recall election on Friday.